Rug 101

size, pile, materials, and why you don't need a washable rug

Rugs are one of the things most people think they are doing wrong.

And after doing my Sunday Roast last week, I think a lot of us are doing them wrong.

Don’t worry, it’s not your fault, we have been fed too small rugs on the internet for years. Also they are super expensive. Hopefully after reading this you will feel confident in your investment.

Let’s get into it.

In this post we will talk:

• size (the most common mistake!!!)

• pile (what it is and why it matters. Hello crumbs in the fibers)

• materials (natural only and why I will die on this hill)

• why you probably don’t need a washable rug (really)

Size

If there is one thing you take away from this post please let it be this.

Your rug is too small.

Truly. Most rugs are too small for the space, and rug that’s too small makes your room feel like it’s floating and disconnected and I don’t want that for you.

Here are some rules:

Living room:

• all front legs of your furniture should be on the rug at minimum

• all furniture legs on the rug is preferred (honestly its kind of hard to go too big)

• nothing should be floating in the middle of the room without a rug underneath it

Bedroom:

• if its under the bed, your rug should extend out at least 18–24 inches on each side

• when you get out of bed you want your feet to hit the rug, not the floor

• a smaller rug at the foot of the bed can work but only if the room is small. If you have a small or abnormal sized space, look at vintage rugs. They come in weird sizes.

Dining room:

• your chairs should still be on the rug even when they are pulled out (about 30” past the dining table)

• go bigger than you think (this space gets messed up most often)

If you have big room, use big rug. lol.

Pile

Pile refers to the height and the texture of the rug’s fibers. It’s how a rug looks, feels, and how much work it’s going to be for you.

Low pile:

• super easy to clean

• great for high-traffic areas and dining rooms

• often leans more contemporary in style

High pile / shag:

• cozy, warm, very tactile

• shows vacuum marks

• harder to clean

• if you go too shaggy it slightly gives 70’s vibes in a not so cute way

• better in a low-traffic spot like a bedroom (but one that you don’t eat in or else crumbs will live there forever)

Flatweave:

• super durable

• really easy to maintain

• great layered under another rug

• doesn’t have much cushion so make sure to use a rug pad

For most living rooms I usually go for low or medium pile. They wear better, are easier to maintain and clean.

Materials (IMPORTANT!)

This is where I get a little psycho but this is my opinion and it is a hill I will die on.

Natural. Materials. Only.

My most polarizing take.

Synthetic rugs like polyester and polypropylene look fine at first. Then they start to look worn, then they look cheap, and then you have to replace them. Natural rugs are the complete opposite. They age well, they wear well, they get better with time.

Also, synthetic rugs are plastic and they off-gas which means they are filling your home with chemicals. If you have kids who play on your rugs I really would push you to natural materials. This goes for just about all objects in your home but to me rugs are a big one (and bedding!).

What I use and will always recommend:

Wool:

• my tier 1

• durable, soft, naturally stain resistant

• dyes beautifully so colors stay rich for a long time

• worth every penny (go vintage!)

• a good wool rug will last forever

Jute and sisal:

• earthy and textured

• not the softest or most plush

• beautiful layered under a smaller wool rug

• great in a modern, casual, Scandinavian, or natural spaces

• not great in super wet areas as they can mold

Cotton:

• fine but not my first choice

• they works well in a casual spaces or kids rooms

• not as durable as wool but technically washable

A natural rug is an investment but I promise it’s worth it.

Washable rugs (the honest truth)

I’m not going to tell you washable rugs are evil. But I am going to ask you to really think about them before you buy one.

A washable rug makes sense if:

• you have a dog who has accidents

• you have a very young baby and you’re just trying to get through

• you’re going to put it in a mudroom or entryway that is absolutely so dirty

I would nudge you away if:

• you just want something “easy”

• you saw one in a pretty photo in instagram

• you’re putting it in your main living space

Washable rugs are usually always synthetic which goes back to everything we just talked about. They’re okay for a little, then they are not, they you replace them.

Natural rugs are not as high maintenance as people think. Wool especially is naturally resistant to staining. if you vacuum them, hit em with a spot clean, maybe professionally clean them here and there, they will last you forever.

If you absolutely have to go washable get the nicest one you can afford and don’t put it anywhere it’ll be the main focus.

Those are my rug tips!

Next week we are talking mixing and matching. How to combine different rugs, woods, and furniture styles.

<3